Copper(ii) (quinoline) sulfate spherical superstructures: fast preparation, characterization, affecting factors and shape evolution

Abstract

A fast preparation of prickly copper quinoline sulfate spherical superstructures is reported. The superstructures were obtained based on a simple coordinative reaction between CuSO₄ and quinoline (q) in a water–methanol system without assistance of any surfactant or template. The obtained spherical superstructures were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV-vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. SEM observations showed that the as-obtained spherical superstructures were constructed from abundant nanoplates. Experiments discovered that the phase, size and morphology of the superstructures could be affected by some reactive parameters including the molar ratio of Cu²⁺/q and the volume ratio of water/methanol. A time-dependent shape evolution experiment confirmed that the growth of CuqSO₄ spherical superstructures underwent a process from flowerlike structures, to spherical structures with pores, and finally to prickly spherical superstructures.